Patrick Brown brings nearly four decades of experience guiding clients through the complex regulatory and legal framework governing real estate in Washington, D.C.
Securing regulatory approvals in the District requires a sophisticated understanding of its processes, agencies, and decision-makers. Patrick offers deep institutional knowledge and a well-established network of relationships across the local and federal landscape. His experience enables him to navigate administrative procedures efficiently, anticipate challenges, and instill confidence in clients as he leads them through every stage of the approval process.
Patrick has successfully completed projects across all eight wards of Washington, D.C., spanning commercial, residential, industrial, hospitality, educational, institutional, and governmental developments – including matters involving foreign governments. He also has extensive experience advising on complex legal issues associated with the acquisition, sale, and use of U.S. real estate by foreign governments for both diplomatic and commercial purposes.
He regularly represents clients before key District and federal bodies, including the D.C. Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA), D.C. Zoning Commission, U. S. Commission of Fine Arts and Old Georgetown Board, National Capital Planning Commission, D.C. Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB), Mayor’s Agent for Historic Preservation, D.C. City Council, D.C. Court of Appeals, D.C. Office of Administrative Hearings, D.C. Public Space Committee, virtually every Advisory Neighborhood Commission, and a wide range of local and civic organizations.
His areas of focus include:
- Land use, planning, and zoning
- Local and federal historic preservation regulations
- Real estate development, acquisition, and financing
- Legislative and municipal affairs
- Administrative litigation
Patrick served as an Officer in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve from 1988 to 2000.l’s Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve from 1988 to 2000.
-
Representative Matters
- Obtained Zoning Commission approval for Wesley Theological Seminary of the United Methodist Church for its first and subsequent campus plans, including approval for its 659-bed student housing project, the first ever privately developed dormitory to house students from two schools.
- Obtained BZA and other approvals for W.C. & A.N. Miller Development Company for large-scale development in Spring Valley in Washington, D.C., including 164 single-family detached dwellings and five commercial buildings.
- Represented Crate & Barrel in obtaining HRPB approval for the adaptive redevelopment of the former Garfinkel’s department store in Spring Valley.
- Represented the District of Columbia government in obtaining BZA approval for the construction of an 80-bed youth detention facility.
- Obtained numerous successful BZA appeals of D.C. zoning determinations, including obtaining a temporary restraining order from the BZA blocking an imminent enforcement action by the then Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs.
